Joe Biden

“ Paid leave makes a real difference in ordinary people’s lives. We have to preserve the progress we made over the past eight years and continue to support states and cities in their fight for worker protections. ”

“ Since the President’s call to action to increase the nation’s minimum wage back in 2013, every state from my state of Delaware and 18 others—and 55 cities—have raised their own minimum wage. From Alaska to California, Nebraska to Florida—workers now have a shot at a paycheck they can actually live on. Seven million workers have seen their wages rise. Earlier this month, four states—Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and Washington, in this last general election, overwhelmingly passed minimum wage increases. ”

“ But we need to recognize that globalization hasn’t been an un-alloyed good—and we need to empower those who have paid the price of that globalization. There’s many things we can do to level this playing field. Because given a chance—American workers never, ever let their country down. ”

“ And it begins and ends with what the President and I have believed since day one—we have to give the American workers a fighting chance. We have to build the middle class. Restore the basic bargain, which was—if workers contribute to the success of an enterprise, then they should share in the gains. We have to make sure that everyone who’s worked hard and played by the rules has a real shot at getting into the middle-class and staying there. ”

“ In the neighborhoods where you and I grew up—if you miss a paycheck because you’re sick, or have to take care of a loved one—you could be in trouble for that month’s mortgage payment, the car payment—just paying the heating bill. ”

“ It really matters—because no one in America should work 40 hours a week and still live in poverty. Additionally, California, Rhode Island, Washington State and New Jersey— and more than two-dozen cities like Minneapolis and Spokane—have extended access to paid leave—expanded it. ”

“ And may God protect our troops. ”